Mercury (Hobart)

Cox back hungrier than ever for Roos

- ADAM SMITH

JAKE Cox’s latest injury setback left him considerin­g his footballin­g future but the star wingman is back refreshed, refocused and ready to help lead Clarence’s TSL revival.

After missing nine weeks of action due to knee bursitis, Cox returned with a bang on Saturday as the Roos orchestrat­ed a stunning upset of ladder leaders Lauderdale.

However the 29-year-old has revealed to the Mercury his knee injury, which followed missing a large chunk of the 2017 season due to a finger problem, pushed him into a mental hole.

Cox took a few weeks away from the club to ponder his future but has not only found his love of the game again but also been re-energised about his side’s direction.

“There wasn’t much I could really do about it but it was quite frustratin­g watching them lose every week,” Cox said. “I had bursitis underneath the knee cap and it was really badly inflamed.

“It was pretty frustratin­g not being able to play or anything so I took a few weeks away from the club and sort of got my head around it a little bit.

“I played all the games last year but the year before I missed 10 weeks with my finger and then obviously missing nine games this year I sort of wondered if I should just give it away. But the last three or four weeks I’ve been loving footy again.”

One of the most dangerous players in the competitio­n in full flight, Cox has terrorised the Bombers in the past and was again instrument­al in the 22-point victory.

He admitted there was some extra motivation to step up after having his colours lowered by Josh McGuinness in recent meetings.

“I thought about that all last week. I know I’ve got a good record against them so you have that confidence that you can do well.

“But Josh McGuinness has had my number the last two or three times so I was pretty keen to turn that around pretty quick.”

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